Final answer:
Interest expense is not considered an operating expense because it is not directly related to the operations of a business.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item that would not be classified as an operating expense is interest expense. Operating expenses are the costs that a business incurs in its day-to-day operations. Examples of operating expenses include rent expense, depreciation, and repairs and maintenance. However, interest expense is not directly related to the operations of a business but rather represents the cost of borrowing money.